Coupler support



Aug. 29, 1961 G. w. COPE ETAL COUPLER SUPPORT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F'iled Jan. 2, 1958 FIG. i

FIG. 2

their Attorney G. W. COPE ETAL COUPLER SUPPORT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3

Inventors:

ew wm Gn WW mm Hw G their A'rornay Aug. 29, 1961 Filed Jan. 2, 1958 2,998,144 COUPLER SUPPORT Geoffrey W. Cope, Williamsville, and Howard Winther,

Elma, N.Y., assigner-s to Symington Wayne Corporation, a corporation of Maryland Filed Jan. 2, 1958, Ser. No. 706,726 18 Claims. (Cl. Z13-61) This invention relates generally to draft rigging and more particularly to coupler supports for railway car couplers.

With the increase over the years in the length and speed of freight trains and impact speeds in classification yards, it has been recognized that the present standard 24% inch draft gear pocket is barely adequate and that a longer pocket to accommodate a draft gear of correspondingly increased length and capacity is needed. To this end it has been proposed to increase the length of the standard draft gear pocket to some 36 inches to accommodate draft gears having at least four inches of travel in bulf. However, this proposal presents diiculties in supporting a coupler due to the aggravated wear on the carrier iron. A solution for this problem in the case of the alternate standard type F coupler is provided in Blattner application Serial No. 609,572, now Patent No. 2,956,693, dated Oct. 18, 1960, wherein the coupler carrier is caused to move longitudinally with the coupler by making it integral with the yoke. In accordance with the present invention, the problem is solved by arranging for a coupler carrier to move longitudinally wit-h the coupler without change for that purpose in either coupler or yoke.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an improved coupler support wherein a separate coupler carrier is connected for movement longitudinally with the coupler, thereby permitting the longitudinal movement of the coupler at least in buff to be increased without aggravation of the Wear on the coupler carrier.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved coupler support in which the coupler carrier is adapted to be connected for longitudinal movement with the coupler by a pin connecting the coupler for relative angling to an associated yoke.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an improved coupler support wherein the coupler carrier is connected for longitudinal movement with the coupler and is supported and guided in such movement by the striking casting.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved resilient coupler carrier which moves longitudinally with a coupler and the carrier iron of which maintains surface engagement with the shank of the coupler over an extended area throughout the range of downward angling of the coupler relative to an associated yoke.

Another object o-f the invention is to provide an improved resilient coupler carrier wherein the carrier iron and supporting member are so interlocked as to precompress the supporting spring means, while permitting limited relative vertical movement therebetween.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter in the detailed description, be particularly pointed out in the appended claims and be illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical sectional view of a preferred embodiment ofthe improved coupler support of the present invention, taken along the lines 1 1 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the lines 2 2 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary front elevational view, taken partly along the lines 3 3 of FIGURE 1.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, in which like reference characters designate like parts, the improved coupler support, while applicable for rigidly or resiliently supporting a coupler over an extended range of longitudinal movement, has been applied for purposes of illustration to a universally angleable coupler, such as the A.A.R. alternate standard type F. As in a conventional installation of such a coupler, the exemplary coupler 1 of the present invention, which is shown only in part, has a shank 2 projecting or extending through a substantially rectangular opening 3 in a striking casting 4 and, inwardly of the opening and between associated center sills 5, is pivotally connected for relative universal movement to a yoke 6 by a cylindrical vertical or vertically disposed pivot or yoke pin 7. Although only its forepart is shown, it will be understood that the yoke 6 of the illustrated embodiment is intended to fit into the proposed 36 inch draft gear pocket, as measured by the longitudinal spacing between rear stop lugs (not shown) and front draft lugs 8, which conveniently are formed integrally with the striking casting.

The illustrated structure also is conventional in its suph port for the pivot pin 7, employing for this purpose a support plate 9 underlying the pivot pin and releasably connected tothe sides 10 of the striking casting.

Since the increase in capacity obtainable with the increased-length draft gear permitted by the proposed 36- inch draft gear pocket is needed primarily in buff, the structure to make use of this increase must provide for increased travel in buff and, depending on whether the draft gear employed is of the selective travel type, as well may provide increased travel in draft. The limiting dimension in buff being the spacing between the striker 11 and the horn 12 of the coupler 1, and this spacing in turn being a function of the length of the shank 2 of the coupler, it would appear that the prime necessity in adapting a draft structure for the needed increased travel in buff would be an lincrease in the leng-th of the shank, accompanied, in the case of the illustrated type F coupler, by a corresponding increase in the Width of the pinsupport plate 9. While this has been attempted, the additional travel of the coupler relative to a coupler carrier fixed against longitudinal movement, as in conventional F coupler installations, has been found to produce excessive wear in the carrier With resultant drooping of the coupler below coupling height.

In the illustrated embodiment, not only are the length of the shank 2 of the coupler and the width of the support plate 9 increased to afford on the order of 41/2 inches of travel of the coupler in buff or both buff and draft, but excessive wear on an associated coupler carrier 13, incident to the increased travel, is eliminated by arranging the coupler carrier to move longitudinally with the coupler. The latter is accomplished in accordance with the present invention by the provision of a coupler support, the coupler carrier 13 of which both supports and is connected to the associated coupler 1 and is slidably mounted for longitudinal movement with the coupler on means xed to or rigid with the striking casting 4 or other part of the fixed underframe of a railway car (not shown).

As in the illustrated embodiment, the rigid means on which the coupler carrier 13 is slidably mounted or supl ported may be an integral part of the striking casting 4, the latter for this purpose being provided below the shank-receiving opening 3 with a forwardly opening recess, socket or seat 14. Bounded at the bottom by a substantially horizon-tal shelf or cross-piece 15 extending transversely of the striking casting 4 between and connecting and preferably integral with downward extensions of the sides 10 of the striking casting, the socket 14 is bounded at the back by a transverse rear wall 16 upstanding from the shelf 15 and disposed, longitudinally of the striking casting, substantially in line with the front edge of the support plate 9. While the recess 14 may be of uniform width, it preferably is constricted laterally over its lower front portion by a pair of shoulders or abutments 17, the confronting substantially parallel and upstanding faces 18 of which `are inset laterally from the sides of the striking casting 4 and each of which is surmoulrted by a longitudinally extending substantially horizontal ledge or shelf 19 connecting its outstanding face 18 to the adjoining of the sides 10.

In a conventional F coupler installation, the support plate on which the pivot pin is supported is disposed immediately below the yoke. However, in the present case the support plate 9 is spaced below the yoke and the pivot pin '7 is correspondingly elongated. In the space so provided there is inserted or received a hub or tail portion 20 of a support or carrier member 21 forming part of the coupler carrier 13, the hub being apertured as at 22 to receive the pivot pin and thereby connect the coupler carrier for longitudinal movement in unison with both coupler and yoke. While the pivot pin 7 may extend through the vertically directed aperture 22 in the hub 2i) and bear directly on the support plate 9, it is preferred, in order to reduce the wear and stress on the support plate, to socket the lower end of the pivot pin in a relatively larger diameter annular bearing pad 23 interposed between the hub 20 and the support plate 9 and bearing directly on the latter, the pad, -for ready replacement, preferably being made separate from the hub.

Here forming part of a resilient coupler carrier, rather than a rigid carrier, such as would be used for a nonvertically swinging A.A.R. standard type E coupler, the support member 21, forwardly of its hub 20, has an upwardly directed, somewhat box-shaped pocket or housing 24 which opens upwardly through a restricted aperture or opening 25 in or interrupting the top wall 26 of the support member 21and is closed at the bottom, below the level of the hub 20, by a substantially horizontal bottom wall 27 adapted to ride or slide on the bottom shelf 15 of the recess 14 or, and preferably, on a wear plate 28 applied to the bottom shelf. The pocket 24 is contained longitudinally by a front wall 29 and a rear wall 30, spaced rearwardly of and of less height than its front wall, and laterally by transversely or laterally spaced side walls 31, all connected by and upstanding from its bottom wall 27.

As in the case of the recess 14, the pocket 24, which the recess receives or seats, may be of uniform width but preferably has its side walls 31 stepped or offset laterally intermediate their vertical extremities to provide a pair of laterally outstanding wings or lugs 32, each overlying one of the ledges 19 and, to limit lateral movement between the st-riking `castingvand the support member Z1, extending substantially to the adjoining s-ide 1t) of the striking casting 4. if desired, these wings 32 may be designed to ride at the outset on the ledges 19, with the latter then serving as the supports for the support n1ember 21. However, it is preferred to depend for support of the support member primarily on the bottom shelf 15 and only secondarily on the ledges 19, this, to minimize machining, requiring a slight initial vertical spacing between the underfaces 33 of the wings 32 and the ledges i9 which will be taken up by wear on the bottom wall 27 of the pocket. In the form of the illustrated hollowcasting, the support member conveniently may have its longitudinally spaced pocket 24 and hub 2d connected, below the tc-p wall 26, by a substantially horizontal intermediate wall 34 extending between the hub and the upper end of the rear wall of the pocket and connected at the sides to the top wall by rearward extensions of the side walls 3l.

The pocket 24 houses or contains vertically acting spring means, preferably in the for-m of a plurality of coil springs 3S, which normally extend or project through the opening 25 interrupting the top wall 26. At their upper extremities, the supporting springs 35 bear against and resiliently support a carrier iron 36, surrnounting and normally spaced above the top wall 26 of the support member 21 and bearing against the underside of the shank 2 of `the coupler. To be eective, a carrier iron for a vertically swinging coupler must normally support the coupler at coupling height and, as well, be capable of yielding vertically to a limited degree under forces tending to swing the coupler downwardly. The illustrated carrier iron 36 not only fullls these requirements but, by virtue of its longitudinal movability with the coupler, can have a much greater bearing area than does the carrier iron of the conventional resilient coupler carrier with corresponding reduction in wear.

In the form shown, the carrier iron 36 has a rectangular and, preferably, substantially flat and square plate portion 37 of substantially the width of the top wall 26 of the support member 21 above the pocket 24. For limiting its upward movement relative to lthe support member 21 and at the same time interlocking it with the support member, the carrier iron 36 employs a pair of angleshaped depending flanges, one 38 at its front end and the other 39 at its rear end and each terminating downwardly in a rearwardly extending foot l0 spaced below and substantially parallel to the top plate portion 37. Of the two anges, the front flange 38 wraps `around or embraces a forwardly projecting lip 41 on and forming a forward extension of the top wall 26 of the support member 21. Preferably narrower than the plate portion 37, the foot 4t) of the front flange 38 underlies the lip 41 and extends between and is centered laterally by a pair of laterally spaced vertically disposed gussets 42 connecting the lip to the front wall 29 of the pocket 24. Narrow relative to the front flange 38, the rear flange 39 is designed to it or seat `in a positioning or centering slot 43 in the rear edge of the opening 25 with its foot 40 underlying the top wall 26.

Assembled by applying its plate portion 37 over the springs 35 and, after partial compression of the springs, sliding its front and rear feet 4t) under the lip 4l and top wall 26, respectively, of the support member 21, the carrier iron in assembled position is designed to hold the springs under suflicient initial or precompression to maintain the coupler 1 at coupling height and, itself, to be held against accidental disassembly. lt will be apparent that the carrier iron 36, once assembled, is limited in upward, rearward and lateral movements relative to the support member 21 by its flanges 38 and 39. Limiting relative movement in the remaining horizontal direction, forward, is a function of the springs 35, the latter for this purpose being positioned, by confronting positioning studs or spring seats 44 on the bottom wall 27 of the pocket and the plate portion 37 of the carrier iron, closely adjacent the front wall 29 of the pocket, so as to engage that wall within the forward movement needed to release the feet 40 and thereafter, by their resistance to bending, yieldably resist such release.

Limited in upward movement by the engagement of the feet 4t) of its flanges 38 and 39 with overlying portions of the support member 21, the carrier iron 36 is limited or stopped in downward movement by engagement of its plate portion 37 with the underlying part of the top wall 26 of the support member. Determined by the normal or initial vertical spacing between the top wall 26 and plate portion 37, with the latter substantially horizontal and supporting the coupler 1 at coupling height, the range of vertical movement of the carrier iron 36 relative to the support member 21 in turn determines the range of downward swinging of the coupler and also preferably is so gauged as to prevent the supporting springs 35 from going solid. To enable the carrier iron not only to swing downwardly with the coupler but to maintain surface engagement or bearing between its plate portion 37 and the underface of the shank 2 of the coupler to the lower limit of the couplers downward swing, the top wall 26 of the support member 21, instead of being flat, preferably slopes downwardly in a forward direction from a point in front or clear of the yoke 6 at an inclination corresponding to or paralleling the underface of the shank at maximum downward inclination. As a consequence, the carrier iron 36 not only yields vertically within predetermined limits under forces tending to swing the coupler downwardly, but in effect pivots or swings, throughout its range of movement, about a horizontal axis substantially in vertical alignment with the axis of vertical swinging of the coupler.

It was mentioned earlier that the illustrated coupler support was capable of accommodating some 41/2 inches of movement of the coupler in both buff `and draft. Since in buff the support member Z1 moves rearwardly in the recess 14 in the striking casting 4 and the rear walls 36 and 16 of the pocket 24 and recess 14, respectively, vertically overlap, the initial or normal longitudinal spacing between these walls must be of at least equal magnitude. To accommodate like movement in draf-t there must normally be somewhat over 41/2 inches of longitudinal overlap between the bottom wall 27 of the pocket and the bottom shelf 15 or the wings 32 and the ledges 19 or, and preferably, both. The remaining requirement is that the side walls 31 of the support member 21 clear the draft lugs 8 at maximum buff, this entailing tapering of the side walls or progressive narrowing of the support member rearwardly from a point back of the pocket 24.

From the above detailed description, it will be apparent that there has been provided an improved coupler support by which a vertically swinging or other coupler is adapted for increased travel by connecting a coupler carrier, separate from both coupler and yoke, for longitudinal movement with the coupler. It should be understood that the described and disclosed embodiment is merely exemplary of the invention and that all modifications -are intended to be included which do not depart from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having described our invention, we claim:

1. The combination with a coupler connected by a pivot pin for relative swinging movement to a yoke, of a coupler carrier supporting a shank of said coupler for relative transverse movement therebetween and slidably supported on means fixed to an underframe of a railway car, said carrier being connected by said pivot pin for longitudinal movement in unison with said coupler.

2. The combination with a coupler connected by a pivot pin for relative swinging movement to a yoke, of a coupler support comprising shelf means fixed to an underframe of a railway car, and a coupler carrier supporting a shank of said coupler for relative transverse movement therebetween and slidably supported on said shelf means, said carrier being connected by said pivot pin for longitudinal movement with said coupler.

3. The combination with a coupler connected by a pivot pin for relative swinging movement to a yoke, of a coupler support comprising substantially horizontal shelf means fixed to an underframe of a railway car, and a resilient coupler carrier resiliently supporting a shank of said coupler and slidably supported on said shelf means and connected by said pivot pin for longitudinal movement with said coupler.

4. The combination with a coupler connected for relative swinging movement to a yoke, of a coupler support comprising shelf means fixed to an underframe of a railway car, a support member supported by and slidable on said shelf means longitudinally of said car and pin-connected to said coupler for movement in unison therewith, a carrier iron carried by said support member and engageable with a shank of said coupler, spring means carried by said support member and acting between said carrier iron and support member for normally maintaining said coupler at coupling height, and means for holding said support member and carrier iron in assembled relation and said spring means under precompression.

5. The combination with a coupler connected for relative swinging movement to a yoke, of a coupler support comprising substantially horizontal shelf means fixed to an underframe of a railway car, a support member supported by and slidable on said shelf means longitudinally of said car and pin-connected to said coupler for movement in unison therewith, a carrier iron carried by said support member and engageable with a shank of said coupler, spring means carried by said support member and acting upwardly on said carrier iron for normally maintaining said coupler at coupling height, and means integral with said support member and carrier iron and interlocking on assembly thereof for hnlding said memtber and iron in assembled relation and said spring means under precompression.

6. The combination with a coupler connected for relative swinging movement to a yoke, of a coupler support comprising substantially horizontal shelf means fixed to an underframe of a railway car, a support member supported by and slidable on said shelf means longitudinally of said car and pin-connected to said coupler for movement in unison therewith, a carrier iron carried by and surmounting said support member and engageable with a shank of said coupler, spring means carried by said support member and acting upwardly on said carrier iron for normally maintaining said coupler at coupling height, means integral with said support member and carrier iron and interlocking on assembly thereof for holding said member and iron in assembled relation and said spring means under precompression, and means on said carrier iron and engageable with means on said support member for limiting downward movement therebetween.

7. The combination with a striking casting fixed to an underframe of a railway car, a coupler having a shank extending through an opening in the striking casting, and a yoke connected by a pivot pin for relative swinging movement to said coupler, of a forwardly opening recess in said striking casting below said opening, fixed substantially horizontal shelf means in and extending longitudinally of said recess, a coupler carrier having a portion received in said recess and riding on said shelf means, means surmounting said portion and engageable with a shank of said coupler for supponting said coupler at coupling height, and means spaced from said first-named means for connecting said carrier to said coupler for longitudinal movement in unison therewith.

8. The combination with a striking casting fixed to an underframe of a railway car, and a coupler having a shank extending through lan opening in the striking casting and pin-connected for relative universal swinging to a yoke, of a forwardly opening recess in said striking casting below said shank-receiving opening, fixed shelf means in and extending longitudinally of said recess, a support member having a pocket received in said recess and supported for relative longitudinal movement on said shelf means, means on said suppont member rearwardly of said pocket for receiving a connecting pin between said coupler and yoke and therethrough connecting said support member for longitudinal movement in unison with said coupler, a carrier iron surmounting said support member and having a plate portion engageable with said shank, spring means in said pocket and acting upwardly on said carrier iron for normally spacing said plate portion above said support member, said support member having a forwardly and downwardly sloping top wall underlying and engageable with said plate portion for limiting maximum downward angling of said coupler, and means for interlocking said carrier iron to said support member and maintaining said spring means under precompression.

9. The combination with a striking casting fixed to an underframe of a railway car, `and a coupler having a shank extending through an opening in the striking casting and connected by a pivot pin for relative universal angling to a yoke, of a forwardly opening recess in said striking casting, a substantially horizontal shelf fixed to and extending between sides of said striking casting and defining a bottom of said recess, a longitudinally extending substantially horizontally directed ledge instanding from each of said sides above said shelf, a support member having a pocket supported on said shelf and wings outstanding laterally from said pocket and overlying and supportable on said ledges, means on said support member rearwardly of said pocket and interposed between said yoke and a support plate for said pivot pin, said interposed means being apertured for receiving said pivot pin and thereby connecting said support member for longitudinal movement in unison with said coupler, a carrier iron surmounting and movable vertically relative to said support member and engageable with a shank of said coupler, spring means in said pocket and acting upwardly on said support member, means for limiting upward movement of said carrier iron under force of said spring means, and a forwardly and downwardly sloping top wall on said support member and inclined in correspondence with the maximum downward inclination of said coupler, said top wall underlying and being engageable with a portion of said carrier iron for limiting maximum down- Ward swinging of said coupler.

l0. The combination with a striking casting fixed to 4an underframe of a railway car, and a coupler having a shank extending Ithrough an opening in the striking casting and connected by a pivot pin for relative universal angling to a yoke, of a forwardly opening recess in said striking casting, a substantially horizontal shelf iixed to and extending between sides of said striking casting and deiining a bottom of said recess, a longitudinally extending substantially horizontally directed ledge instanding from each of said sides above said shelf, a support member having a pocket supported on said shelf and wings outstanding laterally from said pocket and overlying and supportable on said ledges, means on said support member rearwardly of said pocket and interposed between said yoke and a support plate for said pivot pin, said interposed means being apertured for receiving said pivot pin and thereby connecting said support member for longitudinal movement in unison with said coupler, a carrier iron surmounting and movable vertically relative to said support member and engageable with a shank of said coupler, spring means in said pocket and acting upwardly on said support member, means for limiting upward movement of said carrier iron under force of said spring means, and a forwardly and downwardly sloping top wall on said support member and underlying and engageable with a portion of said carrier iron for limiting maximum downward swinging of said coupler, the inclination of said top wall corresponding to the maximum downward inclination of said coupler.

11. The combination with a striking casting fixed to an underfrarne of a railway car, and a coupler having a shank extending through an opening in the striking casting and connected by a pivot pin for relative universal angling to a yoke, of a forwardly opening recess in said striking casting, a substantially horizontal shelf fixed to and extending between sides of said striking casting and dening a bottom of said recess, a longitudinally extending substantially horizontally directed ledge instanding from each of said sides above said shelf, a support member having a pocket supported on said shelf and wings outstanding laterally from said pocket and overlying and supportable on said ledges, a hub on said support member rearwardly of said pocket land interposed between said yoke and a support plate for said pivot pin, said hub being apertured to receive said pivot pin and thereby connect said support member to said coupler for longitudinal movement therewith, a pad between said hub and support plate of extended bearing area relative to and socketing a lower end of said pivot pin, a carrier iron surmounting and movable vertically relative to said support member and engageable with a shank of said coupler, spring means in said pocket and acting upwardly on said support member, means for limiting upward movement of said carrier iron under force of said spring means, and a forwardly and downwardly sloping top wall of said support member and underlying and engageable with a portion of said carrier iron for limiting maximum downward swinging of said coupler, the inclination of said top wall corresponding. to the maximum downward inclination of said coupler.

l2. The combination with a coupler connected for relative universal movement to a yoke, of a resilient coupler carrier comprising a rigid support member mountable for support by an underframe of a railway car and having an upwardly opening pocket, a carrier iron surmounting said support member and engageable with a shank of said coupler, spring means carried by said support member in said pocket and acting upwardly on said carrier iron for normally maintaining said coupler at coupling height, and means unitary with each of Said support member and carrier iron and interlocking on assembly thereof for holding said member and iron in assembled relation and said spring means under precompression.

13. The combination with a coupler connected for relative universal movement to a yoke, of a resilient coupler carrier comprising a rigid support member mountable for support by an underframe of a railway car and having an upwardly opening pocket, a carrier iron surmounting said support member and engageable with a shank of said coupler, spring means carried by said support member in said pocket and acting upwardly on said carrier iron for normally maintaining said coupler at coupling height, and means spaced longitudinally of said carrier and integral with said carrier iron and interlocking with means integral with said support member for holding said member and iron in assembled relation and said spring means under precompression.

14. The combination with a coupler connected for relative universal movement to a yoke, of a resilient coupler carrier comprising a rigid support member mountable for support by an underframe of a railway car and having an upwardly opening pocket, a carrier iron surmounting said support member and engageable with a shank of said coupler, spring means carried by said support member in said pocket and acting upwardly on said carrier iron for normally maintaining said coupler at coupling height, and spaced longitudinally of said carrier and legs downstanding from said carrier iron and terminating downwardly in substantially horizontally directed feet underlying means integral with said support member for holding said member and iron in assembled relation and said spring means under precompression.

l5. The combination with Aa coupler connected for relative universal movement to a yoke, of a resilient coupler carrier comprising a rigid support member mountable for support by an underframe of a railway car and having an upwardly opening pocket, a carrier iron surmounting said support member and engageable with a shank of said coupler, spring means carried by said support member in said pocket and acting upwardly on said carrier iron for normally maintaining said coupler at coupling height, leg means spaced longitudinally of said carrier and downstanding from said carrier iron and each terminating downwardly in substantially horizontally directed foot means underlying means integral with said support member for holding said member and iron in assembled relation `and said spring means under precompression, and vertically directed guide slots in said support member and each receiving one of said leg and foot means for limiting relative lateral movement of said member and iron on relative vertical movement therebetween.

16. The combination with a coupler connected by a pivot pin for relative swinging movement to a yoke, of a coupler support comprising a coupler carrier connected by said pivot pin for longitudinal movement with said coupler relative to an underframe of a railway car, means fixed to and extending longitudinally of said underframe at opposite sides of said carrier, and wing means on said carrier and overlying and slidable on said xed means for slidably supporting said carrier.

17. The combination with a coupler connected by la pivot pin for relative swinging movement to a yoke, of a coupler support comprising a coupler carrier connected by said pivot pin for longitudinal movement with said coupler relative to an underframe of a railway car, substantially horizontally directed ledges xed to and extending longitudinally of and instanding from said underframe at opposite sides of said carrier, and wings on and outstanding from said carrier and each overlying and slidably engaging one of said ledges for slidably supporting said carrier thereon.

18. The combination with a striking casting fixed to an underframe of a railway car, and a coupler having a shank extending through an opening in the striking casting and connected by a pivot piu for relative universal angling to a yoke, of a forwardly opening recess in said striking casting, substantially horizontally directed ledges fixed to and extending longitudinally of said striking casting at opposite sides of and instanding into said recess, a support member connected by said pivot pin for longitudinal movement with said coupler, and wings outstanding laterally from said support member and each overlying Aand slidably engaging one of said ledges for slidaibly supporting said support member thereon.

References Cited in the Iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,213,395 Milliken Ian. 23, 1917 2,431,864 Dean Dec. 2, 1947 2,718,968 Metzger Sept. 27, 1955 2,812,074 Blattner Nov. 5, 1957 

